Every few months we spotlight offers from companies that are real head-scratchers, are actually less generous than they appear, are just plain outrageous, or may simply elicit a chuckle. Here’s the latest crop.
| T-Mobile Free iPhone 17 Offer |
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Those of us of a certain age remember the FEDEX commercials where John Moshitta rapid-talked his way to stardom. It seems that T-Mobile found their own new rapid-talker to disclose all the catches involved in their offer for a free iPhone Pro 17.
Listen to the last 17 seconds of this commercial — mostly unintelligible for the average person.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Thanks for nothing, T-Mobile.
| High Beef Prices |
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MrConsumer did a double-take a few weeks ago when he saw this $38 price tag on a three-pound chuck steak at his local supermarket.
*MOUSE PRINT:
When I was a kid, chuck steak was 39-cents a pound on sale! Now it’s $11.99. High demand and shrinking supplies they say is to blame. With prices like that for the cheapest type of steak, demand is sure to fall.
But perhaps we should be thankful for the relative bargain that chuck steak is compared to three pounds of Wagyu steak at Costco at ten times the price:
Thanks for nothing, Stop & Shop, Costco, and all the other grocery stories charging outrageous prices for beef.
| Home Depot Free Tool Offer |
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An email from Home Depot made a tempting offer right in the subject line promising a free Milwaukee expansion tool (whatever that is). When you open the email, the recipient is probably surprised to learn there is a $3,000 minimum purchase necessary!
*MOUSE PRINT:
Thanks to David B. for this submission, but thanks for nothing, Home Depot.
| Gizmodo Charger Offer |
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On Gizmodo’s deal page recently they promoted a three-port phone charger as “almost free.”
However, when you scroll down, you learn the charger isn’t anywhere near “almost free.”
*MOUSE PRINT:
Thanks for nothing, Gizmodo.
| Walmart Mayonnaise Price Rollback |
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Everyone knows when you see a rollback sign at Walmart, that signals a price drop.
*MOUSE PRINT:
This must be the new math. Thanks for nothing, Walmart.
| Groupon Deal at AMC Theatres |
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It looked like quite a deal at AMC to get a movie ticket and a snack for only $5.03 with a Groupon discount.
*MOUSE PRINT:
It turns out that only the drink was $5.03. The movie was an additional $12.
Thanks for nothing, Groupon.
If you find an offer suitable to be called out here, please send a copy of it to Edgar(at symbol)MousePrint.org . Thanks.
I need to come to the defense of Milwaukee Tools in their offer. As you can see in the verbal lead-in, the reviewer did not know what an “Expander” was. That’s the crux of the mistake.
An expander works to seal fittings in a water piping system. If you’re serious or in the business, you easily buy $300 of the fittings for several jobs. Milwaukee then throws in the expander – an essential tool. This is a great bargain. Great savings.
A correction and apology is needed.
Matthew… the point the submitter, and average homeowner, is making (irrespective of whether I know what an expander is) is that average folks just don’t expect to see a $3000 minimum purchase requirement in a consumer ad.
The T-Mobile ad is insane. I only listened to it once, so I didn’t catch everything, but here is what I did catch:
$100/mo/line plan minimum
Eligible trade-in required
36mo retail-installment contract total $1999.
$35 new line connection fee
Insurance required
You’re “free” phone is $120/mo+tax after factoring in the cost of insurance, plus you pay taxes up front ($150-$200), a $35 connection fee, and you’re locked in for three years.
Beef is an ongoing issue, even 80/20 ground chuck is going for $5-$6/lb. What we’re seeing around here is beef at the grocery store is going up faster than local farms. I can buy 10lbs of 80/20 from the farm down the road for only $1-$2/lb more than the grocery store now.